Your Expat
Community in Tokyo

"Tokyo has so much to offer and InterNations made it much easier to become acclimated to life in this bustling city."

Marina Salgado

"In such a huge city, InterNations has created great events for expats to meet in Tokyo."

Meet the InterNations Expatriate Community of Tokyo!

Konichawa, and a warm welcome to the InterNations Tokyo Community! InterNations is a dedicated global community of expats who communicate both online and face-to-face in order to help each other overcome any of the problems and stresses that relocating to another country might cause. So if you're looking to move to Tokyo, you probably have some doubts about where the best neighborhood is for expats to live. You might also wonder where to get the best matcha (ceremonial green tea) from your adachi (Tokyo's second-largest area). If you want to get information about where the best expat schools are or simply want to get the skinny on the best local nightlife, our friendly and welcoming InterNations Community is here to help you out.

With InterNations, you never stand alone. Whether you move to another city or go on a business trip
somewhere — our communities are there to make you feel at home wherever you are in the world. Feel free to
also check out our other vibrant InterNations Communities like the ones in
Jeddah or
Singapore.

Join Our Exciting Events in Tokyo

Our Global Partners

Find More Information in Our Tokyo Expat Guides

Moving to Tokyo will take you to a huge, vibrant metropolis, where 21st-century Japan meets the traditional side of the country. InterNations has put together a short guide on Tokyo’s districts, house hunting, and other essential information to prepare you for your move to Tokyo.

Living in Tokyo, although a mind-blowing experience, is not without its pitfalls. If you have never been to Japan before, life in Tokyo will not come without a culture shock. With our InterNations guide, you will learn all about healthcare, education, and other aspects of an expat’s daily life.

Working in Tokyo gives you the chance to become part of a cosmopolitan work force in a vibrant, global metropolis. With the InterNations guide to Tokyo, you will learn all you need to know about the urban economy and working in the Greater Tokyo Area.

Exchange Tips about living in Tokyo

Get trustworthy advice and local insights from fellow members in our Tokyo expat forums.

Further Information About Expat Life and the Local Economy in Tokyo

Serving as one of the most populous cities, Tokyo is home to over 35 million residents. However, Tokyo is a city unlike any other metropolitan area in the world. Futuristic and absolutely rammed to rafters, it can be a daunting place to live at first but truly rewarding once you ease yourself into the Japanese culture. You could spend a day hanging around in the Harajuku area or Shibuya district exploring the latest fashion trend and immersing yourself in J-pop culture. You could go to the Tsukiji fish market and find a sushi bar to taste the most authentic Japanese food as well. Do not forget to discover some hidden gems in town. From the Ebisu Yokocho food court to Afuri Nakameguro, you will get the real "taste" of Tokyo. In addition, business is big in Tokyo, and many expats come into high-flying jobs in the world of trading, but opportunities are also available for expats of any skill set. For instance, there are a certain number of job opportunities in the automotive industry, medical technology, and healthcare fields, together with the service sector. However, as Japanese business etiquette differs slightly from other Asian countries, it is important to learn basic business etiquette if you would like to work in Tokyo. With regards to education, the city has one of the most prestigious universities in the world — Tokyo University. Besides, the private research institutions such as Waseda University never fail to attract thousands of talented people from around the world to come to study.
When it comes to accommodation, the housing options for expats vary. Most expats choose to live in areas with a high concentration of other expats, such as the Hiroo or Roppongi districts. Non-Japanese services such as schools and hospitals are rare, but with the help of the InterNations Tokyo Community you should be able to find the best amenities around town for you and your family. Japanese houses tend to be quite small to maximize space usage, but expat houses are sometimes bigger if you have the budget. There is a wide range of choices in terms of accommodation types such as guest houses, flats, and home stays. But if you would like to improve your Japanese skills and get to know more about local culture or customs, it is better to go for a home stay. You can either go to house hunting websites or ask local real estate agencies for more information.

InterNations is the largest global network for expatriates, with communities in 420 cities across the
globe. Get to know fellow internationals in your city, before you're moving, or when traveling somewhere
and never feel like a stranger. InterNations makes it easy for you to stay in touch with your expat
friends, both online and offline, so you can grow your network of friends and contacts from all over the
world. Whether they live in
Khobar (Eastern Prov.) or
Amsterdam,
InterNations allows you to be close to them even if they are miles away.

The Network for Like-Minded Expats in Tokyo

Japanese culture, although unique and interesting, can be quite tough for foreigners to understand at first, with high importance placed upon the concepts of respect, honor, and dignity. Also, the Japanese seldom expose their emotions to others in public since they are very modest and shy, which makes it more difficult to understand their feelings and ideas. On the other hand, the language barrier can also prove a difficult one (although not insurmountable with practice) since expats have to learn a whole new alphabet. Therefore, it is common that most expats suffer culture shock when they come to Japan for the first time. Luckily, InterNations offers a large range of groups and social events in Tokyo that help you stay connected to a diversified and friendly expat community and help you find your feet. From wine tasting or coffee evenings, to professional networking events and music clubs, there's always something for everyone — whether you need like-minded expats to chat with or a companion with whom to enjoy your favorite activity, such as hiking and dancing — InterNations won't let you down.